The effectiveness of influenza vaccine can be reduced in the elderly

New research suggests that influenza vaccines may be less effective in the elderly because of lack of antibody diversity. However, the results also suggest a way forward for creating even more effective influenza vaccines.

The vast majority of influenza-related deaths occur in patients over 65 years of age, making them a leading cause of death among seniors. This is thought to be due to changes in the immune system of elderly patients, but a team of investigators from several countries wanted to know exactly what was causing the phenomenon.

Investigators decided to take a closer look at B cells, the cells responsible for producing antibodies, to see how they worked differently in young and older patients.

According to the results of the study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, the authors found that B cells secreted by older patients acquired fewer mutations, making them less able to fight the rapidly evolving influenza virus.

As the B cells of young patients mutated to cope with new developments in the influenza virus, the study authors found that elderly patients' B cells were essentially stagnant.

A version of this article was originally published by MD Magazine. Visit MdMag.com to see the full article.